John waterhouse



(No Model.)

- J. WATERHOUSE.

RAILWAY BUMPER.

No. 402,790. Patented May 7, 1889.

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NITED STATES JOHN WVATERHOUSE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RAILWAY-BUMPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,790, dated May '7,1889.

Application filed November 21, 1888. Serial No. 291,513- (No model.)

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN WATERHOUSE, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of New York, in the county and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Railway-Bumper, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in railway-bumpers.

The object of my invention is to construct a tipping-bumper betweentrack-rails at such points in the main line of a railway as will protecta train from running into an open draw-bridge or colliding with anothertrain at a railway-crossing, the bumper to be raised and lowered bymechanism attached to a danger-signal, or so attached to the mechanismof a draw-bridge that when it is opened the bumper will be raised andwhen the bridge is closed the bumper will be lowered and fastened inplace, so that a train may pass safely over it. It is also designed tobe used in a track-yard where tracks enter a building, and where it isdesirable to store cars or engines in front of the building withoutendangering the closed doors thereof; and when desirable to run cars orengines into the building the bumper may be tipped down and fastened inplace and the cars or engine run over it.

The bumper may be operated by suitable mechanism or by the operator.

Figure 1 shows the plan View of the bumper; Fig. 2, a side View; Fig. 3,an end View; Figs. 4 and 5, enlarged views of slotted plates, spring,and spring-box; Fig. 6, a View of the foot-latch by which the bumper issecured in a horizontal position.

Two track-stringers,a a, are framed together and laid upon the wall of apit and the rails secured to them with their proper gage, the bumper tobe preferably made of strong timbers bolted together and capped at theupper end with a strong timber-cap or cross-piece, b, the lower end ofthe bumper to be framed into a foot-casting, c, and securely bolted toit. The casting serves to protect the lower end of the bumper in casethe bumper is struck by a car or engine, and also to give the desiredtipping-weight to the bumper. This weight, which will be adjusted bypourin g molten lead in receptacles left in the casting for thatpurpose, should be sufficient to tip the bumper easily into the positionshown in Fig. 2.

cl d are rubber bufiers which receive the impact of the train. The forceof the impact is resolved into an upward tensile strain in the eye-barsc e and a downward thrust through the abutment of bumper to the heavymasonry or timber or iron suspension-bars built to receive it.

The slotted plates f f and the spring-box and slotted plate g g,containing a coil-spring, are intended to keep the pivot-bar h pressedto the front, so thatthe lower end of the bumper will swing clear of themasonry, and when the bumper does receive a blow the pivot-bar can slidealong the slots in f and g, compressing the spring without danger ofbeing bent.

The eye-bars e e are arranged on the side of the bumper and inside ofthe track-stringers, the two sets being connected by bars that extendfrom one to the other, as shown in Fig. 3. By moving the middle pin-barinwardly and at the same time pressing down on the head of the bumperthe bumper can be forced down until the top of it is level with the topof the trackstringer, in which position the latch 7 Figs. 1, 3, and 6,will catch the lower pin-bar and hold the bumper securely down so thatthe track will be unobstructed and a train can pass over it.

The dotted lines in Fig. 2 show the position of the eye-bars when thebumper is down. By pressing the foot on the lever-arm of the foot-latchthe bumper Will be released, and the superior weight at the other endwill cause the bumper to come up into position shown in Fig. 2. A lugfastened to the inner face of the track-stringer prevents the eyebarsfrom going outwardly beyond the straight line and keeps them on theircenters.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-

1. A stopping device for railroad cars and engines, consisting of abumper pivoted in such relation to the rails of a railroad-track that itcan be made to occupy a horizontal position beneath the level of thetracks, or tilted to an inclined position so that the upper end willengage the platform or some portion of the main body of the car orengine, substantially as described.

2. A stopping device for railroad cars or engmes, consisting of a bumperpivoted intermediate its ends between the rails of a railroad-track, andan abutment below the track to engage the lower end of the bumper whentilted into operative position to sustain the shock or blow upon thebumper, substantially as described.

3. A stopping device for railroad cars or engines, consisting of abumper having a pivotal sliding support between the rails of arailroad-track, and an abutment below the track to engage the lower endof the bumper when tilted into operative position to sustain the shockor blow upon the bumper, substantially as described.

4. A stopping device for railroad cars or engines, consisting of abumper located between the rails of a railroad-track, pivotally mountedin elongated or slotted bearings, a spring bearing upon the rear of thepivot, and an abutment below the track to engage the lower end of thebumper when tilted intooperative position to sustain the shock or blowupon the bumper, substantially as described.

5. A stopping device for railroad cars or engines, consisting of abumper pivoted intermediate its ends between the rails of arailroad-track, a stop for the upwardly-moving end of the bumper, and anabutment below the track to en gage the lower end of the bumper whentilted into operative position to sustain the shock or blow upon thebumper, sub stantially as described. I

6. A stopping device for railroad cars or engines, consisting of abumper pivoted intermediate its ends between the rails of arailroad-track, eye-bars limiting the movement of said bumper, anabutment below the track to engage the lower end of the bumper whentilted into operative position to sustain the shock or blow upon thebumper, and a footlatch to hold the bumper in a horizontal position,substantially as described.

7. A stopping device for railroad cars or engines, consisting of abumper pivoted intermediate its ends between the rails of arailroad-track, and provided with an elastic cushion, a pair of eye-barslimiting the movement of said bumper, a transverse bar connecting theeye-bars, and an abutment below the track to engage the lower end of thebumper when tilted into operative position to sustain the shock or blowupon the bumper, substailtially as described.

JOHN WATERHOUSE.

Vitncsses:

ROBERT I. SEVERN, O. D. I'IOLMAN.

